Trump’s gaze is fixed on Russia’s military buildup near Sumy, Ukraine, as fears grow over Putin’s intention to seize the city.
President Donald Trump has confirmed he is “very closely” monitoring Russia’s military buildup near the Ukrainian city of Sumy, amid growing fears that Vladimir Putin is preparing a fresh offensive to seize the strategic city just miles from the Russian border.
Concerns have intensified as the U.S. temporarily halted arms shipments to Ukraine—including critical Patriot air defense systems—over concerns about dwindling American stockpiles. The pause, announced by the Pentagon, could leave Kyiv dangerously exposed to further Russian assaults.
When asked how he would respond if Putin launched an assault on Sumy, Trump told reporters: “We’ll see what happens. I’m watching it very closely.”
Sumy, with a population of around 268,000, sits just 19 miles from the Russian border. It has become a potential target for the Kremlin, especially as Russian forces have struggled to make meaningful gains elsewhere along the frontlines. Putin has previously referred to the region as part of a desired “buffer zone” and now appears to be escalating troop movements in the area.
Russian forces have already pushed Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region and are amassing roughly 50,000 troops near Sumy. This force is about one-third the size of the army Putin initially deployed in his failed attempt to take Kyiv in early 2022.
U.S. Halts Military Aid as Ukraine Faces Air Defense Crisis
Meanwhile, Ukraine is experiencing a dire shortage of air defense missiles needed to protect against Russia’s escalating drone and missile attacks. According to Politico, the U.S. has frozen deliveries of key military equipment, including Patriot systems, precision-guided artillery, Hellfire missiles, and F-16-launched projectiles.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly explained the move as part of a broader reassessment of America’s military commitments, saying, “This is about prioritizing U.S. security interests first.”
At last week’s NATO summit, Trump appeared non-committal when pressed by President Volodymyr Zelensky about restarting Patriot deliveries: “They do want the anti-missiles, the Patriots, and we’re going to see if we can make some available. But they’re very hard to get—we need them too. We’re supplying them to Israel, and they’re very effective.”
Putin Blames the West, Signals No End to War
Putin, meanwhile, reiterated to French President Emmanuel Macron in a recent call that Russia has no intention of ending its war against Ukraine. The Kremlin’s summary of the conversation placed full blame on the West, accusing NATO countries of ignoring Russian security concerns and arming what Putin calls the “Kyiv regime.”
Moscow insisted that any resolution must include recognition of Russia’s claims to occupied Ukrainian territories and address what it called the “root causes” of the war.
Attacks on Civilians, Conscription Crackdown Continue
As diplomatic tensions flare, Russia continues to bombard Ukrainian cities. Overnight attacks struck a hospital in Kherson, injuring five patients and three medical staff. In the Kharkiv region, drone strikes wounded four civilians.
At the same time, the Russian government has tightened military conscription policies. Medical exemptions for military service will be significantly reduced—from 30% a decade ago to just 17.5% by 2030, and 16% by 2036—potentially paving the way for a larger draft pool as the war drags on.
As the conflict escalates near Sumy, Trump’s next move—amid a stalled arms pipeline and ongoing NATO discussions—could shape the course of the war in the months to come.
